BrainDance Winners

Judged by expert clinicians and researchers in the mental health field, exemplary BrainDance pieces demonstrate the student's technical artistic ability and empathy with those who have mental illness.

Check out the winners below.

2022 Winners

Art Category

1st Place

  • Nicole Marie Stevens – “Nancy” – Coginchaug Regional School

2nd Place Tie

3rd Place

  • Kayla Morelli – “The Pieces of the Puzzle ”  – Bristol Eastern High School

Mixed Media Category

1st Place

  • Amelia Lavigne – “Alcoholism and Addiction”  – Bristol Eastern High School

2nd Place

  • Chris Hoyecki, Jack Huscher, Braden Koba – “Everybody is at Risk” – Coginchaug Regional High School

3rd Place 

  • Cayden Bernard, Seth Overton, Mekhi Watson, Conner Willett, Jason Adams, Nicholas Letourneau, Max Czellecz – "Side of Things You Don't See" – Coginchaug Regional High School

Academic Category

1st Place

2nd Place

3rd Place

2021 Winners

Art Category

1st Place

  • Emma Walker – “Falling” – Newington High School

2nd Place

  • Caroline Smith – “My Uncle Kevin” – Coginchaug Regional High School

3rd Place Tie

Mixed Media Category

1st Place

  • Cadence Hurlbert, Lily French, Aidan Garcia, Audrey Labasi, Noelle Sorenson – “It Weighs Me down” – Coginchaug Regional High School

2nd Place

  • Matthew Stopka, Sebby Manning, Tyler Garretson – “Hidden Emotions” – Coginchaug Regional High School

3rd Place Tie

Academic Category

1st Place

2nd Place

3rd Place Tie

2020 Winners

Academic

1st Place

  • Amber Hawkins, Narda Portales and Kenna Riley from Norwich Technical High School 

2nd Place

  • Grace Bugnacki from Coventry High School

3rd Place tie

  • Stephanie Novick, Durpy Patel, and Ismael Monteiro de Pina from Norwich Technical High School
  • Olivia Ayers from Hall High School 

Art

1st Place tie

  • Tracy Lam from Southington High School
  • Brianna Webb and Jessy Haggard from Housatonic High School

2nd Place

  • Lily Vining from Lyman Hall High School

3rd Place tie

  • Michelle Carrasquillo from Windsor Locks High School
  • Abigail King from Bristol Eastern High School

Mixed Media

1st Place tie

  • Rivka Resnick from TECCA High School in MA
  • Spencer Alsup, Conner Byrne, Dylan Sartor and Pierce Stephan from Coginchaug High School

2nd Place

  • Neyshalee Carrillo and Erin Melocowsky from Glastonbury High School

3rd Place

  • Eve Slemp and Sonya Huang from East Lyme High School

Teacher

  • Mrs. Jane Novia O’Reilly from Fairfield Prep High School

BrainDance Resources